Argus Limited

Ruby Rose and her friends have been burdened with transporting the Relic of Knowledge safely to Atlas. There's countless miles of Grimm-covered countryside between the city of Mistral and the northern coastline of Anima. Fortunately, the Argus Limited can easily make the journey... so long as nothing goes wrong.

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"Argus Limited" is the sixty-seventh episode of RWBY and the first episode of Volume 6. It premiered in select theaters as a part of a collaboration with Fathom Events on October 25th, 2018. It premiered for Rooster Teeth FIRST members on October 27th, 2018 and was made public on the Rooster Teeth site on November 3rd, 2018. It will be released on YouTube on October 12th, 2019.[1]

At the Mistral train station, Qrow Branwen walks along the crowds to send a letter to James Ironwood, telling him that he knows more about the Battle of Haven that occurred two weeks prior than the official story released. While Ruby Rose and her friends wait to board the Argus Limited, they are greeted by two Huntsmen, Dee and Dudley, who are also assisting in protecting the train. Blake says her goodbyes to Ilia Amitola, who is taking part in the new Faunus movement led by Ghira Belladonna, and the two hug. Sun Wukong and Neptune Vasilias arrive to see Blake off, with Sun telling her that he and the rest of Team SSSN are taking a trip to Vacuo to better himself as a team leader. Blake thanks Sun and kisses him on the cheek.

While on the train, a group of Manticores, led by a Sphinx, attack the train. Dee is apparently killed by the Grimm while Dudley activates the train's defense systems. Team RWBY, Qrow, Jaune, Nora, Ren and Oscar join the battle, leading to the scenes that appeared in the opening. Oscar adamantly tells Dudley to shut off the turrets as it only draws the Grimm towards the passengers. A tunnel approaches, breaking Dudley's arm in the process. After Qrow argues with Dudley about the turrets, Ruby and Jaune convince Dudley to shut them off; Jaune uses his Semblance to mend Dudley's broken arm. Ozpin shares with the group that Grimm are attracted to the Relics, which is why they attacked in the first place. Ruby formulates a plan: Team RWBY, Qrow, and Oscar will stay behind to fend off the Grimm with the Relic on them with the back half of the train while Jaune, Ren and Nora evacuate the passengers to the front half. Jaune uses his Semblance to amplify Ren's Semblance, allowing them to hide the train full of passengers and safely get away from the Grimm.

As Blake severs the back of the train from the rest, she spots Adam on the other side as it pulls away: she draws her weapon but he abruptly disappears, causing her to pass it off as a hallucination.

Team RWBY, Oscar and Qrow manage to defeat the rest of the Grimm, but the back half of the train crashes when the Sphinx spits a fireball as it is killed. No one is harmed, but the group is unexpectedly joined by an elderly woman: Maria Calavera.

Transcript

In a snowy area, a train horn can be heard blaring in the distance. The train zooms by a mountainside as it is being chased by winged Grimm called Manticores. One Manticore flies in but is shot down by something off screen. The Manticore rolls along the train before being sliced by none other than Ruby Rose. The Grimm dissolves and Ruby poses with Crescent Rose behind her back.

Ruby: Got him, now who's next?

A Manticore tries to attack Ruby from behind, but it is stopped by large shards of ice that cause to crash into the mountain. Weiss Schnee zooms by Ruby on her Glyphs.

She wraps Gambol Shroud's ribbon around the neck of a Manticore, allowing Yang Xiao Long to punch through it, causing it to dissipate. Yang and Blake land back on the train, standing next to each other.

Yang: Good to see you're not rusty.

The two proceed forward as Team RWBY continue taking down Manticores. The camera pans a few train cars down to see Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, and Lie Ren, as well as Oscar Pine all climb to the top of the train to join the battle. Oscar runs off towards the front of the train.

Nora: Why is it always something?

Ruby: Just keep it towards the back!

The members of Team JNPR join the battle, with Jaune using Crocea Mors' shield to block a Manticore's fireball. Nora uses Magnhild's grenade launcher form to shoot a Manticore at point blank range. Ren fires StormFlower. Turrets on the train help assist the young Huntsmen and Huntresses with taking Grimm out of the sky.

Nora: Ren!

Nora runs forward and Ren grabs her hand to swing her over to the next train car. She fires off a couple grenades before transforming her weapon into its hammer form and smashing a Manticore in the head.

Oscar: TUNNEL!!

Everyone stops and notices the tunnel ahead.

Ruby: Go!

Everyone proceeds to get below into the train cars. Weiss almost falls off the train when a Manticore's fireball barely misses her. Ruby catches her by her wrist.

Ruby: Thank me later!

Ruby then uses her Semblance and the two of them manage to get below into the train before the tunnel approaches.

White Fang Goon 01: I can't believe he turned his back on us. He just--

A door is heard opening. Visuals show the door opened in the seemingly empty White Fang Throne Room in Mistral. Voices can be heard as the camera continues to pan down the hall.

White Fang Goon 03: We're not taking orders from you anymore! We heard you folded the moment you got sass from the Belladonna girl. I guess she's got more control over you than you--

Suddenly, a slash is heard.

White Fang Goon 01: What? No.

More sounds of slashes and battle are heard as the camera pans over many dead bodies of White Fang soldiers, bloodied and strewn about the floor. The camera stops to show Adam himself sitting on the throne rubbing his chin.

Adam: The Belladonna girl... (stands up) Blake...

Suddenly, Adam uses his Semblance to slash at the throne. He grits his teeth and lets out a loud yell of rage.

A busy train station in Mistral is shown. People go about their business whether they be buying a train ticket, going shopping, eating food, and more. Holographic screens show different locations, amongst them are Argus, Wind Path, Kuchinashi, Shion, and Vale, the latter shown to be crossed out with an "Out of Service" message next to it. Qrow Branwen can be heard narrating a letter he wrote to James Ironwood, detailing recent events.

Qrow: It's been two weeks since the attack on Haven. The official report states that the plot to destroy Mistral's CCT Tower was thwarted by Ghira Belladonna and the Faunus militia group from Menagerie. A Huntsman and some students coincidentally visiting the headmaster were also able to lend some assistance. Unfortunately, Leonardo Lionheart lost his life while trying to defend his school. And those responsible for organizing the attack managed to escape. As I'm sure you can guess, there's a lot more to this report than I'm willing to say in this letter. But for now, what I'm trying to say is that we're on our way to Atlas, James. There's a good chance we'll get there before this letter does, but in case we don't, I need you to know that we're bringing a lot more than bad news with us. See you soon, Qrow.

Qrow places the letter in a mail box. Suddenly, his niece runs by and bumps into him.

Qrow: Hey, what's with the running?

Ruby: And what's with the standing? It's almost time!

Ruby sees the people chattering in the station lobby. She uses her Semblance to get something and fly through the gate. She then emerges smiling and humming, approaching the benches where her companions, minus Blake, are waiting.

Yang: And?

Ruby: (shows them a bag) Ahh!

Weiss: What an absolute waste of time--

Yang: What did you get me?

Ruby: (singsong) You'll have to wait and see!

Yang: No fair!

After Ruby sticks her tongue, Yang attempts to snatch the bag from Ruby, who recoils; then Nora jumps from between them

Up in the walkways above them, Blake is seen conversing with Ilia Amitola, who is no longer wearing her usual White Fang garb and is in something more casual.

Ilia: I still don't feel like I deserve the freedom you and your family granted me.

Blake: (smiling) Well, you're going to have to get over it, Ilia. Saving Haven had a huge impact on how Faunus are seen in Mistral. Now it's up to you all to take the progress and keep running with it.

Ilia: Right. The White Fang may have been a failure, but with your father starting up a new movement, I've got more faith than ever before. (runs up to Blake and gives her a big hug.) Thank you, Blake, for everything. (choking up) I wish you didn't have to go.

Neptune: Hey, Blake. (to Sun) Now would you hurry up? Need I remind you we have our own trip to plan? (noticing Ilia) Oh, I didn't know Ilia was gonna be here. I'll, uh, I'll give you two a moment. (to Ilia) Hey, almost didn't see you there, 'cause, you know, the camouflage?

Blake helplessly reaches her hand out to stop Neptune, but fails to. Sun shakes his head.

Sun: That's right! Seeing you reunited with the rest of Team RWBY really made me realize something - I'm like the worst team leader ever. Me and the boys were cool with a little hiatus, but we gotta make up for lost time. Shade Academy's not dealing with any problems like Haven right now. Plus, that means I can show the guys around my old stomping grounds!

Blake: I have to admit, I think I was kind of getting used to having you around.

Sun: I go where I'm needed!

A yellow, sun-like backdrop appears as Sun stands proudly.

Sun: And... you don't need me anymore.

At this, Blake frowns.

Blake: Well, when you say it like that, it sounds sad.

Sun: (putting a reassuring hand on Blake's shoulder.) Look... despite the drama and the fighting and the numerous attempts on my life, I had a lot of fun! But you're with who you're supposed to be now.

The two look down at the floor below them at Blake's friends.

Blake: (smiling) Sun... I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough. I'm still--

Sun: You're still working a lot of things out, I know. But you can do it with them. And in the future, who knows? (turns to the right) I've got a feeling you haven't seen the last of me.

Sun smiles as he proudly balls his fist in front of him. He lowers his fist down as Blake smiles.

Blake: I certainly hope not.

Suddenly, Blake goes up to Sun and kisses him on the cheek.

After saying goodbye to Blake, Sun and Neptune walk down some stairs.

Neptune: (sighs) I don't know, man. It just feels like you're letting her go.

Sun: It was never about that, brainiac. Besides, now that your leader's back and hardened from battle, I've gotta focus all of my time into getting you boys ready for the wastelands!

Neptune groans and walks ahead of him. Sun shrugs in confusion.

The train, Argus Limited, is seen traveling in the snowy countryside along a mountain. Inside, passengers walk through the halls. An elderly woman is seen passing by a room that Team RWBY is staying in. The four girls are all on beds reminiscent to their old dorm room from Beacon. Weiss is reading a book, Ruby plays a game on her Scroll, Yang is reading a magazine, and Blake is looking out the window.

Ruby: All right, girls, I think it's time for an official team exercise. (enthusiastically) Who wants to play video games?

Yang goes to grab her scroll from her bag. Blake notices this and quickly walks over to her.

Blake: Here, let me help you with that.

Blake helps get Yang's bag down from the shelf, much to Yang's dismay.

Yang: Blake, you don't have to that. (takes her bag)

Blake: (saddened) I don't know what you're talking about.

Yang: I'm fine. We're gonna be fine. It's just gonna be a bit before things are back to normal. But... I am glad we're all back together.

The two smile at each other, with Ruby and Weiss joining in as well.

Blake: Yeah, okay.

Qrow: How touching.

Qrow is at the doorway holding a cocktail in his hand.

Ruby: Oh hey, Uncle Qrow! You wanna play too?

Qrow: (chuckles) Kick your butts? Sure.

Suddenly, the train jolts, causing Qrow to drop his drink. Passengers can be heard screaming in fear.

Blake: What was that?

Weiss: Exactly what it sounds like.

Blake: Just my luck.

Qrow: (looking out the window) It's not yours... grab your weapons!

Qrow runs out of the room and Team RWBY follow suit, grabbing their respective weapons on their way out the door. Qrow climbs to the top of the train and notices a group of Manticores approaching from the back. Dee and Dudley are already up top and prepare to fight the Grimm. A much larger Grimm, a Sphinx, lands on the train and lets out a loud roar. A few train cars down, Team RWBY join Qrow as they too arrive on top of the train with their weapons out. Dee charges his weapon, an electrical spiked club, and charges forward to attack. The Sphinx roars and a Manticore flies by to snatch up Dee.

Dudley: Dee!!

Dudley watches helplessly while his partner is dragged down to the forest to his unfortunate death. The Sphinx roars again and all of the Manticores fly forward to attack.

Blake: What's the plan, Ruby?

Ruby: Don't let anyone else die!

With that, Team RWBY and Qrow charge forward into battle. Down below in the train, Oscar opens up a window to see the commotion, a Manticore barely missing him.

Ozpin: Shall I?

Oscar: No, I'm keeping control.

Oscar walks out and bumps into Jaune, with Ren and Nora behind him.

Jaune: What's going on?

Oscar tries to answer, but is interrupted by another jolt as passengers scream in fear. Jaune's expression then turns determined.

Back outside, Team RWBY and Qrow get to work on cutting down Manticores. Dudley runs toward the front of the train and takes his scroll out, activating the train's defense systems.

Dudley: Come on, come on.

The train's armor activates, with reinforced plating covering most of the train while metal bars criss-cross on the windows. After that, a series of turrets rise above the train and begin targeting the midair Grimm. A group of Manticores get shot down.

Dudley: Ah, yes! (pumps his fist)

Meanwhile, Qrow engages the Sphinx, using the scythe form of Harbinger to attack. The Sphinx tries to crush Qrow with its paw, but Qrow manages to transform into his avian form before changing back to land an attack from above. The turrets fire at the Sphinx from behind, causing it let out another loud roar. Two Manticores fly down, one does a tuck and roll into a turret, destroying it. The other evades turret blasts and spits a fireball at one, destroying it. The passengers inside the turret's train car scream as it jolts from being destroyed.

Qrow: (to Dudley) Hey! What are you doing?

Oscar and Team JNPR climb up to the top of the train to join the battle, bringing events back to the beginning of the episode. This time from a different perspective.

Nora: Why is it always something?!

Oscar runs over to Qrow, who is shooting at Grimm.

Oscar: How can I help?

Qrow: You can get that idiot to shut off the turrets. They're just drawing the Grimm toward the passengers!

Oscar: Right!

Oscar runs forward, dodging Grimm attacks along the way. He manages to approach Dudley, who is firing at Grimm with his own rifle.

Oscar: Stop! You've gotta shut the turrets off!

Dudley: Are you crazy? No way!

A turret continues fire, knocking more Grimm out of the sky.

Dudley: Yes! Another one down!

Oscar: (placing his hand on Dudley) Stop! We have to lure the Grimm to the back.

Dudley: What does it matter if they're dead? (shoves Oscar off and continues to fire at the Manticores)

Suddenly, they notice the Sphinx and the rest of the Grimm fly off the train, keeping their distance.

Dudley: Where are they going?

Oscar, realizing something, quickly turns around.

Oscar: TUNNEL!!

Dudley: Huh?

They take notice of the fast approaching tunnel. Oscar quickly gets below the train. Dudley does the same, but inadvertently leaves his arm stretched out as it impacts the wall of the tunnel. The screen goes black as the sound of a bone snap and Dudley yelling in pain is heard.

Team RWBY and JNPR quickly run into the train car as Oscar tends to Dudley, who holds his bruised arm in pain. Qrow enters and approaches Dudley.

Qrow: I said, turn those damn things off! (picks up Dudley and shoves him into the wall)

Dudley: (groaning in pain) Those things are keeping us alive!

Qrow: Us, sure, but they're putting the passengers in danger!

Dudley: I'm the one they hired for this job, okay?! I'm in charge here!

Qrow: Forgive me if I'm not exactly reassured.

While the two argue, Ruby looks out the window and notices the Manticores enter the tunnel, continuing their pursuit of the train. She then looks behind her friends at the passengers, a baby can be heard crying as passengers murmur among themselves. Ruby then walks forward to her uncle and Dudley.

Dudley: Get off me!

Qrow: Look, if you bozos had been doing your job instead of shaking down passengers, maybe we wouldn't be in this--

Ruby stops her uncle and walks up to Dudley.

Ruby: Please just shut off the turrets.

Jaune: Trust us, we know what we're doing.

Jaune activates his Semblance to heal Dudley's arm. Dudley looks to the students before giving his answer.

Dudley: Fine.

Ruby nods.

Nora: Ren, could you use your Semblance to mask everyone on this train? With the guns off and emotions hidden, they might lose track of us!

Ren: Hm, I never attempted to affect this many people.

Ruby: Well, you've never had Jaune's help before.

Weiss: He could amplify your Aura!

Qrow: Yeah, that's an alright plan.

Nora: Don't look so worried, Ren. You can totally do this!

Ozpin: (mentally) May I?

Oscar's eyes glow as Ozpin takes over.

Ozpin: I'm afraid there's one complication... The Grimm are also attracted to this. (gestures to the Relic of Knowledge on his hip)

Dudley: What's that?

Qrow: None of your business. Oz, are you serious?

Yang: Why wouldn't you tell us that?!

Ozpin: I--

Ruby: It doesn't matter right now.

Yang crosses her arms.

Ruby: Every second we're on board this train, we're putting everyone else in danger. Get the passengers to the front cars, you'll still mask the emotions and kill the turrets... we just can't come with you. If we cut the back cars with us and the Relic on them, we can deal with the Grimm. You just make sure the rest of the train makes it safely to Argus.

Upon hearing this, Jaune finishes up healing Dudley's arm and walks over to Ruby with a conflicted expression.

Jaune: Only if you'll promise you'll meet us there.

Ruby: (smiling) Promise.

With that, Team JNPR begins evacuating all of the passengers to the front half of the train. The elderly woman from earlier is seen walking, taking a look behind her.

Outside, the turrets are shut off. Blake jumps down and decouples the train, allowing the front half to continue forward. When she looks up, she notices a hooded figure resembling Adam in front of her on the next train car. Blake prepares for a fight, but then realizes that no one is there and it was just her imagination. Blake sighs before jumping back up to the top of the train. Ruby is seen a few train cars down looking at her scroll, which shows portraits of her teammates and Nora, the latter's signal low compared to the rest. Ruby looks back up and notices the Manticores and Sphinx exiting the tunnel and taking flight once again. The Sphinx lands on the train.

Ruby: Now!

Nora gets Ruby's message and gives the okay to Jaune and Ren. The two boys combine their Semblances, with Jaune enhancing Ren's Aura to the point where the entire front half of the train is grayed out by Ren's Semblance. Oscar watches the train as it disappears into the snowstorm, before being attacked by a Manticore. He manages to fend it off temporarily while team RWBY take out several Manticores one by one. Ruby notices Oscar's struggle and takes advantage of Weiss taking one down in order to send it crashing into Oscar's Manticore. Meanwhile, Qrow is seen struggling against the Sphinx. Ruby notices this and she and her team go to assist him.

Ruby: We need to ground it!

Blake: On it! Yang!

Yang takes out a Manticore before launching off it and runs towards the Sphinx, ducking under it. Blake spins her weapon, with Yang punching it back and forth, the ribbon wrapping around the Sphinx's torso. Yang punches Gambol Shroud one more time, embedding the blade to the train's roof, and she and Blake pull the ribbon together, keeping the Sphinx down. Weiss uses her Glyphs to freeze the Sphinx's wings, with Qrow and Ruby shooting at them, shattering them. The uncle and niece ready their scythes as the Sphinx prepares to launch one more fireball. Qrow and Ruby launch forward, spinning their scythes together rapidly as they bisect the Sphinx's torso, finishing it off for good. Before it dies however, the Sphinx launches the fireball, destroying the rails in front of the train. Weiss activates her black Glyphs to hold everyone in place as the train derails and crashes into the snow.

The back half of the Argus Limited is completely derailed, with the train cars crashed in the snow. Qrow, Oscar, and Team RWBY all get back up.

Qrow: Is everyone okay?

Weiss: I'm fine.

Blake: Yeah.

Then, an unfamiliar voice is heard.

Maria: Still alive!

Everyone looks up and notices the elderly woman, Maria Calavera, stepping out from the train.

Trivia

A clip from the episode was released on IGN two days before the episode's debut.

During production the animators took out the blood at the White Fang Headquarters, but had to add it back in later.[2]

The lids of the boba cups in the background of the train station depict the RWBY Chibi characters.[3]

The scene where Blake sees Adam as she severs a link between train cars may be a callback to the "Black" Trailer which ends with her severing a link between train cars and seeing Adam on the other side.

A circular track was used as the set for the scenes outside the train.[4]